Emotions run high as HMAS Darwin makes landfall in Sydney Harbour

Seaman Brent Anschaw meets his daughter Olivia for the first time after HMAS Darwin docked at Garden Island. Photo: James Alcock/Getty Images

Leading seaman Brent Anschaw has missed out on the odd family event during his 211 days at sea.

New car, new house. New daughter.

As HMAS Darwin pulled in to Garden Island on Saturday, five-month-old Olivia was waiting for him in the crowd, crying along with her big sister and her mother, although much louder and with different cause.

LSMT Anschaw was among 232 servicemen and servicewomen who lined the deck of the ship with their hands behind their backs, scanning the shouters and wavers and weepers on land to spot the ones they love as the brass band made jolly.

As they picked out their families, they started to wave – a grey-haired officer opened and shut both palms as a child does, a black-bearded sailor executed a regal twist, a woman whipped out a cheeky wrist shake, then leant back and laughed.

On the top deck, a giant banner unfurled: Jade, will you marry me?

The Department of Defence has categorised HMAS Darwin's tour of the Middle East as a "highly successful" deployment.

During its seven months at sea, the Darwin crew seized 12 tonnes of narcotics worth an estimated $2.1 billion, including the largest heroin seizure in Combined Maritime Forces' history.

They rescued 13 Iranian fishermen who had been bobbing at sea for five days, supported a French fisherman who had suffered a heart attack and towed a vessel to safety for 36 hours after its engine failed.

But the purpose of the deployment was to fight terrorism under Operation Slipper, and HMAS Darwin's brief was to target the narcotics operations that fund terrorist activities.

They boarded eight vessels to execute their seizures.

Back home on Garden Island, the brass band fell silent and the crew was dismissed, breaking into easy smiles and moving towards the gangway.

It is always harder for the ones left behind. LSMT Anschaw's wife, Beth, spent 16 hours in labour with Olivia, communicating with her him only through relayed messages, until they finally spoke on the phone two hours after the baby was born in an emergency caesarian.

His mother, Liz Anschaw, said it was a particularly difficult time for him to be gone from his wife.